We could have Messi like talents in every position and the transfer thread would still be one of the most popular on here
We need 3 new CMs. Who do we sign?
- Thread starter luke511
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It's not far from the truth though.
Agree with this, people don't account for players going through slumps or others growing to fulfill their potential. We can say we need 10 players but then find out that players like Hoijlund have turned a page, Gore has grown into a proper first team player etc. We need to be rid of absolute wasters like Martial and then we have those we know that they will never amount to much like McTominay but there is no way we are signing 3 CMs in one window.
I think what we need will depend more on the departures. Martial looks done so we need a striker to take the pressure off Hoijlund and carry the weight for now, we then need a top CB to replace Varane, Maguire and Lindelof and a young DM to provide cover. The rest of the team's needs should be supplemented by the youth players - Mainoo could be the starting DM or partner to Casemiro if he stays, the fullbacks can do for one more year whilst Garnacho, Rashford and Amad can work the wide areas and maybe a new signing to replace Antony if he doesn't improve.
Bruno G has £100m release clause. Is that worth spending half of the summer budget on him? He’s proven PL, rarely get injured so far, perfect to replace Eriksen and can also cover Mainoo if Mainoo is injured, quality player at a very good age 26 or 27 years old.
Prioritise the positions you'd be targeting, out of interest
Surely 2 is enough?
It was posted as 3 with the assumption Casemiro will be sold. We need 2 if he stays.
We should try and get younger players for all positions we recruit going forward but at the same time, I hope we sprinkle in experienced PL players and not go the Chelsea route. Getting a young high potential CM coupled with the likes of a Douglas Luiz etc would be a good way to go. If you get a Onana from Everton then that could potentially tick both the boxes and lets you be more flexible with the other CM signing. I’d just like to see us be smart about this
We need to be keeping Casemiro for one more year. I think we are often a bit hasty in trying to get rid of everyone. I think he certainly has a lot to offer, even if only as a rotational player, but he’s a captain and someone I think we will need.
Beyond that, we need to firstly decide what midfield structure we want to play with in the longer term. I’d personally like to see a trio that can work well as a unit in all/most phases of play - so a setup that isn’t structured with each midfielder playing 25 yards from each other. We also need to decide what midfield function we want Kobbie Mainoo to take on in the longer term.
I think we should be targeting Vermeeren. He looks a great talent as an all-round midfielder with great defensive workrate and comfort on the ball. He and Mainoo would make a great pairing long term I think, and I don’t see why Casemiro couldn’t bridge the gap for a year. He’s be great value too and we can’t spend 60m+ on everyone.
I’m a great believer in Dan Gore’s talent, although he is yet another teenager like Mainoo and Vermeeran. This is why Casemiro’s presence would be key. I’d have Casemiro, Mainoo, Gore and Vermeeren in and around the midfield. Rabiot of a free would also be shrewd business to offer physicality and experience.
Further forward, I’d like to see Bruno replaced with a more agile, stronger and better close control. This would keep the team moving at a quicker speed, especially when paired with deeper midfielders with similar characteristics. I think Eze would be a great option for this role personally. Cherki can be gotten for peanuts and there is still loads of potential in there too.
McTominay, VDB, Eriksen, Amrabat and probably Hannibal can all go. What I do know is that McTominay absolutely MUST go. Bruno can also be sold for a huge fee and I think that would be smart business at this point in his career.
Beyond that, we need to firstly decide what midfield structure we want to play with in the longer term. I’d personally like to see a trio that can work well as a unit in all/most phases of play - so a setup that isn’t structured with each midfielder playing 25 yards from each other. We also need to decide what midfield function we want Kobbie Mainoo to take on in the longer term.
I think we should be targeting Vermeeren. He looks a great talent as an all-round midfielder with great defensive workrate and comfort on the ball. He and Mainoo would make a great pairing long term I think, and I don’t see why Casemiro couldn’t bridge the gap for a year. He’s be great value too and we can’t spend 60m+ on everyone.
I’m a great believer in Dan Gore’s talent, although he is yet another teenager like Mainoo and Vermeeran. This is why Casemiro’s presence would be key. I’d have Casemiro, Mainoo, Gore and Vermeeren in and around the midfield. Rabiot of a free would also be shrewd business to offer physicality and experience.
Further forward, I’d like to see Bruno replaced with a more agile, stronger and better close control. This would keep the team moving at a quicker speed, especially when paired with deeper midfielders with similar characteristics. I think Eze would be a great option for this role personally. Cherki can be gotten for peanuts and there is still loads of potential in there too.
McTominay, VDB, Eriksen, Amrabat and probably Hannibal can all go. What I do know is that McTominay absolutely MUST go. Bruno can also be sold for a huge fee and I think that would be smart business at this point in his career.
Casemiro has been unfit and injured this season, a season which is now lost with only a tiny chance of CL qualification next season, and there's no reason to get rid of him. We need two central midfielders, one to replace Erikson and other to replace McTominay. Mainoo is the real deal. Gore looks a bright prospect but one step at a time for the boy.
Mount is cover for Bruno. We can lament the daft decision to spend 60m on a squad man, but it is what it is.
Mount is cover for Bruno. We can lament the daft decision to spend 60m on a squad man, but it is what it is.
RCB
CM
DM
ST
Fill out the rest with players we currently have and youth team graduates like Kambwala. See if Evans can serviceable for one more season or keep one of Lindelof/Maguire.
New CM - Mainoo - Mount
New CM - New DM - New CM
We need at least 3 or 4 for the rebuilding.
New CM - New DM - New CM
We need at least 3 or 4 for the rebuilding.
Feels like we need 3 CMs, 3 Forwards, 3 CBs, and 3 fullbacks.
And probably 3 new goalies also.
And probably 3 new goalies also.
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We need physical strong and mentally tough players. They also need to be very talented and smart. I don't watch enough non united football to know the good youngsters but we need 3 summers of a big midfield signing coming in. Under 25 years old. If the first two work out we might not even need a third.
I think we could do with 3, but the profile of players I would want might be a little different to others.
1) Casemiro replacement
2) Someone who can cover/compete with the above
3) An alternative/replacement for Fernandes
I don't think that we need 3 starters as Mainoo can take one of the spots. We can use Gore as cover for Mainoo.
We need someone who can replace Casemiro long term and also need genuine cover for that position.
I'd like someone who is less erratic and volatile than Fernandes. Someone who isn't as awkward a stylistic fit and doesn't ruin the balance of our midfield. We haven't seen an awful lot of Mount, but I'm not a big fan of his anyway to be honest. We could look to promote Fletcher in the next year or two as backup/competition for this role.
1) Casemiro replacement
2) Someone who can cover/compete with the above
3) An alternative/replacement for Fernandes
I don't think that we need 3 starters as Mainoo can take one of the spots. We can use Gore as cover for Mainoo.
We need someone who can replace Casemiro long term and also need genuine cover for that position.
I'd like someone who is less erratic and volatile than Fernandes. Someone who isn't as awkward a stylistic fit and doesn't ruin the balance of our midfield. We haven't seen an awful lot of Mount, but I'm not a big fan of his anyway to be honest. We could look to promote Fletcher in the next year or two as backup/competition for this role.
If we're talking about the same United, I don't think you need worry there.
I’m by talking about our fans. Casemiro has a fantastic season and people don’t like what they see for a month and he’s done and needs to be disposed of at 31.
1.GK
2. CB
3. CM (*2)
4. CF
2. CB
3. CM (*2)
4. CF
More than one centre back. Multiple fullbacks and at least one wide attacking player, probably two.
No it doesn't. Neither Mount or Eriksen are used as 10s.
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Mount is a 10 or wide forward primarily. Eriksen has the odd good game but he has too many weaknesses to be considered an option beyond this season, it’s a massive vulnerability.
Then he got a big injury and goes missing for three months. I think we could reset our midfield and get shot of this 4-3-3, look to use Mainoo as an 8 alternating with Gore but we absolutely must buy a DM - 1) to keep Casemiro fresh and 2) to insure against loss of form, injuries and/or suspension.
More work or attention needs to be focused on our forward play. I'd give Rashford one more season but that would be in competition with Garnacho but we must buy another RW and possibly another 10 but it's possible that with Bruno still around we could use Amad as cover/competition and just buy Olise and a journeyman striker.
Even with Sancho, Antony and Greenwood sold we still have Amad, Garnacho and Mount as options for the right. I think the wings should be at the bottom of the priority list for now. If Greenwood is sold then we need a striker, no question.
Price tags aside, I'm a big fan of Bruno Guimarães and Lucas Paqueta.
I fully expect him to slot in and have a good season now he's back. Him and mainoo will work great together. The shape at the start of the season was doing him no favours. Playing with 2 wing forwards, then effectively 2 10s in Bruno and mount was a terrible idea.
We only need 2 CM, one that we buy must be young, press resistant, cover a lot of ground, another should be a backup CM. Eriksen and Mctominay will be gone by next season, Casemiro should still be around another season. Bruno can stay unless there is a good offer. I think Amad can be a very good no. 10 (Mount can be his backup) if we are signing Olise. We can drop Rashford together with Garnacho on the left.
If Ten Hag wants to persist with a single pivot, he should sign Amadou Onana for whatever Everton ask. Onana will make plenty of blocks and interceptions and he will carry the ball forward.
Mainoo is a talent but he's not suited to operating in a single pivot, although he can do a job there.
Onana could operate in a double pivot with Mainoo as well.
I like what I've seen of Neves in terms of ball carrying from midfield, but definitely a more attacking option than Onana/Mainoo. Still his urgency and pace would suit our style of play.
But Onana is the player that we need to prioritize. We would massively improve with a genuine DM (no disrespect to Kobbie, but I don't see him in a single pivot).
Mainoo is a talent but he's not suited to operating in a single pivot, although he can do a job there.
Onana could operate in a double pivot with Mainoo as well.
I like what I've seen of Neves in terms of ball carrying from midfield, but definitely a more attacking option than Onana/Mainoo. Still his urgency and pace would suit our style of play.
But Onana is the player that we need to prioritize. We would massively improve with a genuine DM (no disrespect to Kobbie, but I don't see him in a single pivot).
Keep hearing about Zubimendi and Onana and potential stars.
We definitely do need 3 new midfielders but we don't necessarily need them all in the same window. Ericksen is finished, McTominay is bad, but he can be kept for another year, and I don't think we should keep Amrabat as he's mediocre. Then we have an ageing Casemiro, and the fact that Mount and Bruno aren't proper midfielders. Then we have to asses of the youth is good enough to come into midfield. As of now, Mainoo is, but the jury is still out on Hannibal.
Any Portuguese fans who can share some light on Florentino Luis’ situation at Benfica?
Only game I’ve watched of him this year was the 1st half of the Inter game where from memory Benfica were dominating but then Inter came back and won in the 2nd half which I didn’t see. In that half of football (admittedly a very small sample size) he looked quality - winning everything and was constantly making line breaking passes.
Looking at his fbref report that seems to back that up with 99th percentile for Tackles and Interceptions and high nineties for passes, pass completion and 87th for progressive passes. Not a great carrier but plays a pretty simple win the ball and progress the play type of DM role which I think is fine if there are carriers around him.
Seems like he’s lost his place in the side this year with Joao Neves and Kokcu playing as the two deeper CMs. Could he be a sensible addition to the side at a reasonable price?
Only game I’ve watched of him this year was the 1st half of the Inter game where from memory Benfica were dominating but then Inter came back and won in the 2nd half which I didn’t see. In that half of football (admittedly a very small sample size) he looked quality - winning everything and was constantly making line breaking passes.
Looking at his fbref report that seems to back that up with 99th percentile for Tackles and Interceptions and high nineties for passes, pass completion and 87th for progressive passes. Not a great carrier but plays a pretty simple win the ball and progress the play type of DM role which I think is fine if there are carriers around him.
Seems like he’s lost his place in the side this year with Joao Neves and Kokcu playing as the two deeper CMs. Could he be a sensible addition to the side at a reasonable price?
The answer to our midfield is Bruno Guimaraes. I genuinely think he has the ability to cover most of the gaps in our midfield himself. He is PL proven, in his prime, hard worker, really good secondary midfield creator, and comfortable with the ball in progression.
100m release clause, and Newcastle need the money to relieve FFP pressure.
100m release clause, and Newcastle need the money to relieve FFP pressure.
And we can’t splash that on 1 player when we need about 4 signings.
If it is true that the new ownership will relieve us of the FFP pressure then it shouldnt be a problem. I think we need 1 elite midfielder, instead of 2-3 mediocre ones, so hopefully we have the money to spend, and we spend it wisely.
Ye I agree that we need to spend on Quality rather than quantity. Spending money wisely hasn’t been our thing over the last few years but hopefully that starts to change. The new owners are going to want to impress in there first window.
One of my picks, Arthur Vermeeren has been linked with Atletico who have had a bid rejected. Barcelona and Leverkusen also linked.
Why do people keep saying that Onana is a DM? Anytime I’ve watched it’s always been b2b. Maybe @SilentWitness can shed some light
I'd say he is best in a double pivot as the most defensively orientated/minded of the two beside a more creative partner. So could probably do that job alongside Mainoo like he does Garner.
Also if you're keen on utilising Bruno and Mount I think that's how you do it. You have a double pivot and that frees up Bruno/Mount to play as that more advanced midfielder and do their thing.
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Don't think he has to be best in the league in France, Kante should be evidence that they have some gems, didn't Evra come from the French league and I felt we barely knew him.
Bruno G now because Newcastle are having a fire sale and want the money more than the player. 70m should do it and he's actually worth it for once.